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…anybody who doesn’t show love towards gay and lesbian people is insulting God. They are not just homophobic if they do that – they are actually Godophobic because God loves every one of those people

– Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin

This is hardly revolutionary stuff – it’s embedded in the Catechism, and in all formal Church documents on the subject of homosexuality: we deserve to be treated with “respect, compassion and sensitivity”, and any violence or malice, in words or actions, is to be deeply deplored.

Sadly, for too many Catholic bishops and some orthotoxic conservative Catholics, it’s a principle which is simply ignored, which is why it’s welcome whenever a leading cleric states what should be routine. What’s even more widely ignored, is that other principle clearly stated in the documents, that unjust discrimination must be avoided. When Catholic leaders routinely apply that principle, and avoid all unjust discrimination in employment and elsewhere within the Church’s own institutions – that really will be something to celebrate!

HOMOPHOBIA is “insulting to God”, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has warned.

In the wake of the so-called ‘Pantigate’ controversy over homophobia comments made on RTE and a defamation settlement, Dr Martin said: “God never created anybody that he doesn’t love.”

Speaking to the Irish Independent, the senior cleric said this meant that “anybody who doesn’t show love towards gay and lesbian people is insulting God. They are not just homophobic if they do that – they are actually Godophobic because God loves every one of those people”.

MOCKED

Referring to the revelations made last week by TD Jerry Buttimer, that he was beaten, spat at, mocked and harassed because he was gay, Dr Martin expressed concern saying: “Certainly the sort of actions that we heard of this week of people being spat at because they were gay or ridiculed . . . that is not a Christian attitude. We have to have the courage to stand up and say that.”

He added: “We all belong to one another and there is no way we can build up a society in which people are excluded or insulted.

“We have to learn a new way in Ireland to live with our differences and for all of us to live with respect for one another.”

In one more sign that some Catholic bishops are changing their tone, if not their stance, on marriage equality, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has stated that the Church will remain opposed to gay marriage, but must learn to do so “in a more respectful way.”

Martin: church needs to be ‘respectful’ in gay marriage debate

The Archbishop of Dublin says the Catholic Church will remain opposed to gay marriage – but must learn to “fight its battles” in a more respectful way.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said there is a growing divergence between the Church’s view on marriage and that of wider society.

He said the Church’s position won’t change, but it must remain respectful in the debate.

“The church has taken a very strong line, and I don’t think people would expect the church to not to do that,” he said.

“But it would be done – and this is important – the church has to learn how to fight its battles in a respectful and in a noble way.”

His comments come after the Chairperson of the Constitutional Convention, Tom Arnold, urged the Government to hold a referendum on same-sex marriage.

Over 79% of the Convention favoured legalising marriage between two people of the same sex.